Wire spring-stem pessary.



G. B. ROWELL.

1H: NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGTON, 04 c.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

UNTTEB TAT GEORGE E. RQWELL, OF SAN BERNARIDINO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO J. B. ELDRIDGE, OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

WIRE SPRING-STEM PESSARY.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Bernardino, in the county of San Bernardino and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful ire Spring-Stem Pessary, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to be used as a therapeutical agent in thetreatment of disorders of the womb for the purpose of zeeping the sameopen, and allowing g"avity to affect the contents when the same needdrainge, and one of the main objects of my invention is to provide adevice of the character described which will aid the womb and associatedorgans by preventing closure of the mouth of the womb, therebypermitting drainage of the unnatural contents.

Another object of my invention is to produce a device of the characterdescribed of minimum size and proper shape so that the same may be usedwithout injury to the tissue or displacement of the organs.

Other objects and advantages will appear as hereinafter specified.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view illustrating my device inoperative position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the pessary. Fig. 3is a side elevation of the pessary. Fig. 4; is a plan view of the same.

1 designates the pessary formed of spring wire such as gold, silver rcopper or other suitable material having the necessary properties. Thepessary 1 is formed of a single piece of spring wire having its innerend bent in the form of a loop 2, the ends of the loop being contractedforming a neck 3 and extending forwardly therefrom in two outwardlydiverging legs 4 forming a stem. The outer ends of the legs l are bentat right angles as shown at 5 forming a stop for the purpose hereinafterdescribed. To finish the device so that there are no sharp edges exposedwhich might abrade the tis sue, the ends of the wire are bent back onthemselves as shown at 6.

With the device made as above described there is a clear passage 7between the two members or legs at, the passage 7 extends the fulllength of the legs at through the neck 3 where it is somewhat smaller tothe loop 2. For the purpose of making the device properly conform to theshape of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 19, 1910.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 556,448.

womb the stem or legs 4 and loop 2 are bent in a curve as shown in Fig.3.

The device is used in the following manner, the loop 2 is inserted intothe mouth of the womb and pressed upwardly thereinto until the stop 5abuts against the portion of the womb surrounding the mouth thereofwhich operation may be done by instruments or in some cases by the useof the hand. \Vhen in this position, the portions of the legs atadjacent to the stop 5 are engaged by a lower band of soft muscle fiberindicated at 8 and the neck portion 3 is engaged by an upper band ofmuscle fiber 9 which is of firmer texture than the band 8 and whichfirmly grasps the device about the neck 3 thereof. The muscle fiber 9engaging the contracted portion of the device or neck 3 preventsdislodgment of the device. The device being formed of wire of smalldiame ter takes up little space and being shaped to'oonform to the wombmay be worn without discomfort or even consciousness of its presence.

The device is of sufiicient length so that the loop 2 passes beyond themuscle fiber 9 to the interior of the womb, and the passage 7 betweenthe legs 4 and necks 3 provide an open canal from the interior of thewomb to the exterior thereof, so that the contents of the womb drain oilthrough the said passage 7 It is obvious that the device may be made ofdifferent lengths to suit the requirements of individual cases. It isunderstood, how ever, that in no case must the two members or legs 4.-of the device be permitted to con tact and thus close the passage 7therebetween, but I do not limit my invention to the particular shape orform shown, nor do I limit myself to the use of any particular materialin making the same.

lVhen the device is in position in the womb as shown in Fig. 1, thewalls of the vagina close in below the stop 5, as indicated at 10, andassist in keeping the device in place.

It is understood that by using the device as above described the mouthof the Womb is prevented from closing, thereby constituting the device aproper mechanical therapeutic-a1 agent for treatment of cases ofexaggerated muscular contraction or stenosis of the opening. The deviceaffording an open passage from the exterior to the interior of the Wombis also useful in the treat ment of the Womb With medicaments which maybe inserted into the Womb through the passage 7 of the device. Furtherin cases of displacement the device acts as a brace to make the Wombassume a natural position.

hat I claim is:

1. A Wire spring stem pessary formed of a single piece of Wire bent toform an open ended loop at one end, the ends of said loop beingcontracted, forming a neck portion, said neck portion terminating in apair of diverging legs forming a stem, said ends of said loop and saidlegs being spaced apart forming a longitudinal passage from said loopthrough said legs.

2. A Wire spring stem pessary formed of a single piece of Wire bent toform an open ended loop at one end, the ends of said loop beingcontracted, forming a neck portion, said neck portion terminating in apair of diverging legs forming a stem, said ends of said loop and saidlegs being spaced apart forming a longitudinal passage from said loopthrough said legs, said legs having their ends bent to form a stop.

3. A Wire spring stem pessary formed of a single piece of Wire bent toform an open ended loop at one end, the ends of said lo'op beingcontracted, forming a neck portion, said neck portion terminating in apair of diverging legs forming a stem, said ends of said loop and saidlegs being spaced apart forming a longitudinal passage from said loopthrough said legs, said legs having their ends bent to form a stop, thelegs and loop being bent to form a single curve approximately at rightangles to said stop.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San BernardinoCalifornia this seventh day of April 1910.

GEORGE B. ROTVELL.

In presence of- CLARK E. SAUNDERS, H. J. lVnioirr.

